Martin Shkreli, a former pharmaceutical executive, is set to face a lawsuit regarding his alleged copying of the Wu-Tang Clan’s album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. This decision was confirmed by US District Judge Pamela Chen, who, while dismissing some claims from the album’s current owners, PleasrDAO, has allowed the lawsuit to proceed on the grounds of “misappropriation of trade secrets.”
The designation of trade secrets in this context has raised questions, as Judge Chen noted that trade secrets can encompass a variety of business information, provided that reasonable measures are taken to maintain their secrecy and they possess independent economic value. She remarked that the album’s value is significantly tied to its secretive and exclusive nature.
In August, Shkreli was required to relinquish any copies of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin after PleasrDAO filed a lawsuit asserting that he improperly retained copies of the album, potentially decreasing its worth. The organization claims that Shkreli intends to release these copies, despite them having acquired the album for approximately $4 million at a government auction.
The lawsuit filing includes allegations that Shkreli publicly confessed to making copies of the album during livestreams, and even engaged with PleasrDAO members in a mocking manner. Despite his previous legal troubles, including a prison sentence, Shkreli’s actions suggest he remains unapologetic about his conduct surrounding the album.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/787023/martin-shkreli-sued-for-copying-wu-tang-clan-record